A method for checking and tracking a construction product

Abstract

A method for checking and tracking a construction product involves arranging a microchip configured to exchange information with a remote-control device; associating predefined information about the construction product to the microchip; irremovably applying the microchip on the construction product; carrying out the check and tracking of the construction product through a predefined communication mode between the microchip and the remote-control device; carrying out a communication between each remote-control device and at least one management server configured to communicate with each remote-control device for checking all the predefined information contained on different microchips and concerning a plurality of construction products different from each other.

1 . A method for checking and tracking a construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) provided with a respective package that at least partially covers or encloses one single construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) or a group consisting of comprising two or more similar construction products ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ), the method comprising the steps of:
 arranging at least one microchip ( 12 ) internally provided with at least one communication device which, through a proprietary wireless communication protocol, is configured to send information to at least one remote-control device ( 14 ) and to receive information from said at least one remote-control device ( 14 );   associating predefined information about said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) to said at least one microchip ( 12 ), through said at least one remote-control device ( 14 );   irremovably applying, through at least one installation device ( 20 ), said at least one microchip ( 12 ) on the surface, or in any other position, of each construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ), or on at least part of the construction products ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) enclosed by the same package, or on a single package which covers or at least partially encloses one or more construction products ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 );   carrying out the check and tracking of said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ), or at least part of the construction products ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ) enclosed by the same package, or of a single package that at least partially covers or encloses one or more construction products ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ), through a predefined communication mode between said at least one microchip ( 12 ) and said at least remote-control device ( 14 ); and   carrying out a communication between each remote-control device ( 14 ) and at least one management server ( 48 ), wherein said management server ( 48 ) is configured to communicate with each remote-control device ( 14 ) for checking all the predefined information contained on different microchips ( 12 ) and concerning a plurality of construction products ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) different from each other,   
       wherein said step of carrying out the check and tracking comprises one or more of the following sub-steps:
 management control of the production of said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ); 
 management control of the shipment of said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ); 
 management control of the delivery of said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) to the purchaser; 
 checking the presence of said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) during all the construction steps of a specific building; 
 checking said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) at the end customer, during and after the installation of said construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said construction product comprises an insulating panel ( 10 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said insulating panel is manufactured with a material selected from the group consisting of:
 cork,   wood fibre,   rock fibre,   sintered expanded polystyrene (EPS) with or without graphite additives, and   polyurethane rigid foam (PIR).   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said construction product is selected from the group consisting of:
 a window or door frame ( 100 );   a hydraulic equipment ( 200 );   a scaffolding ( 300 ;  400 );   a thermal coat ( 500 );   a naval application material ( 600 ); and   an anti-seismic element of metal carpentry ( 700 ).   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predefined information is selected from the group consisting of:
 the information about the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) composition;   the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) order number;   the information about the manufacturer of the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 );   the information about the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) production batch;   the information about any certifications of the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 );   the information about the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) transportation modes and its geolocation;   the information about the recipient of the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 );   the information about the installation and any disassembly of the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 );   the information about the disposal methods provided for the construction product  10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 );   the information necessary to ensure correct and efficient management of the life cycle of the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ); and   the information relating to the carbon footprint of the construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ).   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication protocol is of the radiofrequency type with LF, HF, UHF and VHF frequencies. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each microchip ( 12 ) is internally provided with a GPS transceiver, which is configured to receive information on the geographic coordinates of the respective construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) and to transmit said information to said one or more remote-control devices ( 14 ), so as to provide for the geo-localization of each construction product ( 10 ;  100 ;  200 ;  300 ;  400 ;  500 ;  600 ;  700 ) and/or the respective package, provided with the corresponding microchip ( 12 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said remote-control device ( 14 ) is of the mobile type and comprises a PC, a tablet or a Smartphone on which a suitable check and tracking software is installed. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said remote-control device ( 14 ) is of the fixed type and comprises one or more RFID antennas.